Scarecrow release third full album ‘III’ and accompanying EP ‘Golem’

Review By Phil M

Fourpiece rockers Scarecrow have released their third full length album and companion EP ‘Golem’.

The band, we’re told, have travelled extensively through Egypt, Tunisia and Kazakhstan picking up ancient instruments as they travelled

Indeed, the opening track ‘The Saffron Skies Overture’ makes you wonder whether you’ve actually put on a soundtrack album by mistake. With an Eastern feeling, the instrumental track has string sounds, bongos and sitar possibly, and deep bass that give any sub-woofer a decent workout.

‘The Hymn’ is more traditional fare with a sparse sound and bass and guitar in unison and very much a 70s rock vibe. At times the vocals could not be any more Plant-like. ‘Eastern Nightmare’ returns to an Eastern atmosphere, blended with the heaviness of early Sabbath and intricate lead work and orchestral backing.

‘The Foe’ is up next, opening with more brooding synth sounds with a haunting lead guitar over the marching beat of the snare. Then another Sabbath like riff, but again with a middle eastern feel – think ‘Gates of Babylon’ off the third Rainbow album. ‘Rising Sands’ continues the eastern them with plucked string instruments and a traditional sound before the band blast out with distorted guitar and some nice chord changes. Throughout the bongos sound, which may be a little incongruous behind a heavy metal riff for HM traditionalists. There’s definitely more than a touch of Led Zep’s ‘Kashmir’ too in the chord sequences and vocals.

‘Eternal Ones’ is slower and melodic with cellos and acoustic guitars, ‘The Turtle’ returns to a doom-laden and heavily Sabbath influenced riff

The ten minute long epic ‘The Saffron Skies’ follows in the same eastern vein with some great guitar work, building nicely

Of course, there’s a video too with “symphonic arrangements and ethnic instruments, accompanied by the Orza percussion ensemble”.

The accompanying EP ‘Golem’ follows two previous Eps – ‘Nosferatu’ and ‘Ghost’.

The first track ‘Beit Kvarot’ starts with a jazz style beat with clarinet and the sounds of dogs barking and bells ringing “the band leads listeners through the narrow streets of Prague, filled with klezmer motifs, ancient psalms, and kabbalistic knowledge” we are told.

‘Golem’ which follows is more traditional rock with more Sabbath and Zep Kashmiri influences abounding. The final short track ‘Psalm of Creation’ returns to the eastern feel and is wholly vocal in nature.

Overall, the album has a nice ‘concept’ feel to it, harking back to the ‘70s and blending rock with eastern influences. As a crossover maybe this will appeal beyond just the hard core of rock fans.

Personnel:

Artemis – Vocals, Oud, Clarinet, Flute, Piano, Percussion

Max – Guitars

Elijah – Bass Guitar

Vadim – Drums, Percussion

Orza:

Andrey – Percussion

Olga – Percussion